Bottle carrier



Sept. 29, 1953 Filed June 7, 1951 G. C. CURRIE BOTTLE CARRIER 'h--gse--a--ns--n 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Sept- 29, 1953 G. c. cURRlE 2,653,742

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed June 7, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 GRovL-R C. uRR/E,

INVENTOR? ATTORNEYS Sept 29, 1953 l G. c. CURRIE 2,653,742

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed June 7, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 RovER 6. VRR/E,

lNvENToR ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1953 .Filed June'?, 1951 G.; c. cuRRlE BOTTLE CARRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS G. C. CURRIE v BOTTLE CARRIER Sept. 29, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June '7, 1951 @ROVER C. CURp/E,

INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE BOTTLE CARRIER Grover C. Currie, Charlotte, N. C., assigner to Dacam Corporation, Charlotte, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a carrier for cylindrical objects and more especially to a bottle 'carrier adapted to carry a plurality of bottles vand being provided with means therein for holding said bottles in spaced relation to each other `for shipping purposes.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a bottle carrier formed from a single blank of cardboard` or the like which is suitably cut and scored to icrrn a handle portion of double thickness, top panels extending from each side of said handle portion, side panels extending from said top panels, bottom naps extending from said side panels and each of said bottom aps having hingedly connected thereto a partition member adapted to extend across the bottom of said carrier in erected position in spaced substantially parallel relation to the bottom of said carrier and said partition members also having a portion adapted to extend upwardly in said carrier to separate one row of bottles from another.

it is another object of this invention to provide a bottle rier or the type described having handle por ons, top panels, side panels, bottom panels and partition members hingedly secured :d bottom panels and extending within the r and having a portion which extends in spaced substantially parallel relation to the bottom of said carrier and a second portion which extends upwardly from said first-named portion and is secured to the like portion of the other partition member to form a partition extending transversely ci the carrier between the two rows of bottles carried therein and said portions of the partition members which extend in spaced substantially parallel relation to the bottom of said carrier being provided with a plurality of spaced openings adapted to receive bottles therein, said openings being so spaced as to position said bottles in spaced relation to each other.

.it is another object of this invention to provide a bottle carrier of the type disclosed adapted to be filled trom the bottom with a plurality of bottles by a suitable carton filling machine such as illustrated in my co-pending application, Method and Means for Placing Articles in Cartons, Serial No. 788,502, new Patent No. 2,603,924 granted July 22, i952, and wherein the bottles may be inserted in the carrier at a bottling plant and be shipped in interstate commerce and the same car er may then be used as a carton for displaying the bottles for retail sale and may also be used by the retail customer for transporting the bottles from the retail store, said carrier being provided with means therein for holding the bottles in spaced relation to each other to prevent breakage and to conform with regulations concerning the shipment of bottles in interstate commerce. l

` It is another object of this invention to provide a bottle carrier formed from a single blank of material and provided with spacing means for holding the bottles carried thereby in spaced relation to each other to prevent breakage of the same in shipping,

Some of the objects of this invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view ofa blank suitably cut and scored for forming the improved bottle carrier;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the carrier formed from the blank shown in Figure 1 and showing the same in partially erected position;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the improved carrier in fully erected position;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the carton in fully erected position and showing the manner in which bottles are positioned therein in spaced relation to each other;

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a blank suitably cut and scored for forming a modified form of the improved bottle carrier;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the carrier formed from the blank shown in Figure 5 in partially erected position;

Figure 7 is an isometric View of a carrier formed from blanks shown in Figure 5 in fully erected position.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral I0 broadly designates a suitable blank from which the carrier or carton is formed. The blank I0 is rectangular and is considerably longer than it is wide and it is cut and scored in such a manner as to provide a pair of handle portions I I and I2 hingedly secured to each other'along a score line I3, the score line I3 being positioned midway of the ends of the blank. The handle portion I2 is provided with ka handle ap I4 cut therefrom and adapted to be folded along a score line I5 through a suitable hand opening I6 in the handle portion II. The handle portion II is also provided with suitable means for securing the same in juxtaposed relation to the handle portion I2 such as a strip of adhesive I1 so that the handle portion Il may be folded along the line I3 into juxtaposed relation with the handle portion I 2 and by means of the glue strip I1, the handle vportions II and I2 may be secured 3 together with the flap I4 extending through the opening I6 as will be observed in Figure 3. The corners of the handle portions Il and I2 may be rounded as at I8, if desired.

The handle portions II and I6 have hingedly secured thereto top panels I9 and 20, respectively, as along suitable lines of perforations 2| and 22, respectively, which may2 be score lines if so desired. The top panels I9 and 20 have side panels 23 and 24, respectively, hingedly secured thereto as along score lines 25 and 26, respectively.

The top panels I9 and 20 are each provided with a plurality of openings 21, which openings preferably have a curved upper configuration and extend adjacent the lines of perforations 2| and 22 and the base of said openings extend to a point adjacent or even with the score linesl ,25 and 26. The openings 21 are provided t`o` permit necks of bottles being carried by the carrier to extend therethrough as will be fully observed in Figure l4f. The sidepan s 23 and24 h'ave bottom ilaps 30 and 3|, respectiyelyhingedly secured thereto as by score lines 32 and 33, respectively.

Now, in carriers for bottles Qf the typedisclosed, it is frequently Ydesirable Ito package thebottles in the carriers at the factory or bottlingplant by suitable means such as the machine dis'- closed in my rco-pending application, Serial glo.

788,602, and then to ship a plurality o f carriers Containing bottlesvv to A the desired distribution pointsl for wholesale and retail distribution, it being readily observed `that this partcularltype of carrier is p1irnarily de5gned for retail trade.

Now, heretofore, variousproblemsmhave varisen in shipping bottles already I'pa/cl;aged in carriers of this type due to the fact that the bottles would jar against each other and frequently, would break in transit and this has frequentlyreguired the bottles to be packedin casespadt thefatory and then unpacked again and packedintosuitable portable carriers at the distribution, wholesale or retailoutlet. Eurlheryari9lls.g9v9.1fn mental and State regulations now require that bottles being shippedin commerce be protected by certain thickness of paper or cardboard therebetween to protect thesame against breakage.w

Various means havebeen utilized heretofore in different type cartonsto preve nt breakage, suches inserts, but suchmeansare net adaptable to this typeofcarton andare ,not practical for use in automatic packaging machinery. 1 t is a primary object of this invent ion tQ provide bottlespacer partitions formed fromythe v same blank used to form the carton andreadilyadaptableV for use with automatic packaging machinery. l

To this end, there are provided partition members or bottle Spacers and .4 Lformed f romthe blank I which are hingedly secured to the bottorn` flapsk 30 and 3I, .respectively. These par;- tition members!!! and .4l are adapted t0 .befolded so that a portionvthereof may besecured, tothe bottom flaps 36 and 3I and an intermediateportionthereof may extend above thebottoxn ofthe carrier in spaced, substantially parallel, relation to thebottom of the carrier and said partir tions also having an end portion which may be folded into angular relation with said intermedi-` ate portion andsecured to a similar portion of the other partition to form a transverse partition in the centerof the carton .ofdouble thick: ness adapted to hold two rows of bottles in spaced relation to each other and to prevent breakage thereof.

Lil)

The manner in which the partitions 40 and 4I are secured to the bottom flaps 30 and 3| is novel and since the partitions 40 and 4I are identical, only the partition member 40 will be described with like reference characters with prime notations added applying to like parts of the partition member 4I. It will thus be observed that the bottom flap 30 is provided with a short, medially disposed, transversely extending score line 50 extending from one side thereof and a similar score line 5|extending from the other side thereof. A longitudinally extending cut line 52 joins the end of the score line 50 and extends longitudinally 'andtheri transversely as at 53 and then longitudinally as at 54 and joins the end of the score line I. This particular construction results ln saving of cardboard in forming the carton in thatth'e partition member 40 may be folded along the lines and 5I leaving the tab portion 58 of thebottom flap dened by the cut lines 52, 53 and 54 extending outwardly to permit the same to be secured to the tab portion 58' of the partition member 4I to close the bottom of the carrier- This construction provides a bottom for the carrier Ywhichhas onlytwo thicknesses of ma.- terial at any point which eliminates bulk, saves material and provides a strong bottom.

'I hepartition member40 has a first section 55, asecond or intermediate section 56 and a third orend section 51. The first section is connected to the bottom flap 30 by means of the score lines 50 and 5I and this section is provided ,with suitable securing means such as a strip of adhesive 60 extending thereacross adjacent the cutA line 53. The section 56 is hingedly secured to `the section 55 as by ascore line 6I and in order to facilitate the bending of the section 56 along the score line 6I, it has been found desirable to. provide, cut-away portions or perforations 62 and 63 along the score line 6I. The Psecond orintermediate section 51 is hingedly secured to the section 56 as by a score line 64 and it has, been found desirable to provide the score line 6,4 with cut-away portions or perfor-ations 65 and 66 for the same purpose as the cut-away portions 62 and 63,

4It will be observed that the section 55 may be folded along the score lines 50 and 5I into superposed engagement with the bottom flap 30 and by. means of the adhesive strip 60 or other suitable means may be secured to the bottom flap '30. The section 56 may then be folded in a reverse direction along the score line 6I so that the section 56 will extend above the upper surface Yof the section 55 disposed on the top of the bottom flap 30. This section 56 will normally extend in a substantially horizontal spaced relation to the composite bottom formed by the bottom flap 86 and the section 55.

The section 51 of the partition member 40 may then be folded along the score line 64 in a reverse direction to. the fold of the score line 6I so that the section 51 will extend in substantially rightangular relation to the section 56 and the section 51 is normally disposed in a vertical position extending transversely of the erected carrier. The under surfaceof the section 51 is provided with suitable securing means, such as a line of adhesive 61, by means of which the section 51 may be secured to the section 51' to form a substantially vertical, transversely extending partltion in the carrier formed from the blank I0.

The section 56 of the partition member 40 is provided with a plurality of bottle receiving openings 10 which may be substantially an irregular oval in shape, as illustrated, if so desired and which extend adjacent or slightly beyond the score lines 6| and 64 and which are separated by Webs 'II and 12. The thickness of the Webs 1| and 12 is sufficient to hold bottles disposed in the openings 10 a sufficient distance apart from each other to prevent breakage and to conform with transportation regulations.

With the carrier partially erected as described and illustrated in Figure 2, bottles such as bottles B may be inserted through the bottom of the carrier by any suitable means such as the machine identified in my said co-pending application and after the bottles have been so inserted, the portions 58 and 58 of the bottom flaps may be secured t-o each other in overlapping relation as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The portions 5B and 58' of the bottom flaps 30 and 3|, respectively, may be provided with suitable adhesive, not shown, if desired, for securing the same together but preferably these portions are stitched together by staples, or the like, to provide a secure and strong bottom for the carrier.

Modified form Referring now to Figures 5 to 7, inclusive, there will be observed a modied form of bottle carrier similar to the carrier formed from the blank I but having a bottom portion which is cut in a slightly different manner to permit said carton to be made and utilized by machines that are not adapted for cutting and folding the bottom portion of the carrier made from the blank I il.

The modified carrier or carton is made from a blank broadly designated at it having handle portions and l2 secured to each other along asuitable score line I I3. The handle portion I I I is provided with a tab I I4 hingedly secured thereto as at H5, the tab ||5 being adapted to be folded through a hand opening I 6 in the handle portion I I2 as may be observed in Figure 8. The handle portions and I|2 may be rounded at the corners thereof as at I I8, if desired.

The handle porti-ons III and I I2 have top panels ||9 and |20, respectively, hingedly secured thereto as by score lines |2| and |22. Side panels |23 and |24 are hingedly secured to the top panels IIS and |23 as by score lines |25 and |26, respectively.

Ihe top panels I 9 and |20 are provided with a plurality of spaced openings |21 therein Whose base portions extend to a point in alinernent with the score lines |25 and |25, respectively, and the upper portions of the openings |21 are preferably rounded and extend adjacent the score lines |2| and |22, respectively. The score lines |2| and l 22 may be perforated if so desired.

The structure thus far described is substantially identical to the structure of the rst form of the invention. Now, a bottom flap |30 is hingedly secured to the side panel |23 as at |3I and this bottom flap |30 has the corner portions thereof cut-away as at |32 and |33, respectively. A partition member |34 is hingedly connected to the edge of the bottom flap as by a score line |35. The partition member |34 has a first section |36, a second or intermediate section |31 and a third or end section I 38. The corner portions of the section |36 are cut-away as at |40 and |4|, respectively, to coincide With the cut-away corners |32 and |33 of the bottom flap |30.

The section |36 of the partition |34 is also provided with suitable adhesive means such as a 6 transverse strip of adhesive |42 to permit the section |36 to be secured in superposed relation to the bottom flap |30 in erecting the carton. The section |31 is hingedly secured to section |36 .as by a score line |43 and it has been found .desirable to provide the score line |43 with perforations or cutout portions |44 and |45 to facilitate the folding of section |31 along the line |43. The section |31 is also hingedly secured to the section |38 as by a score line |46 which is also preferably provided with perforations or cutout portions |41 and |48 for the same purpose as the cutouts |44 and |45.

The section |31 is provided with a plurality of bottle receiving openings therein which are preferably substantially an irregular oval shape in configuration and are separated from each other by Webs |5| Which are of a suitable thickness sufiicient to hold bottles positioned in the bottle openings |50 in spaced relation to each other to prevent breakage thereof in transportation. The bottle openings |50 preferably extend adjacent the score line |43 and slightly beyond the score line |46.

A second bottom flap |52 is hingedly secured to the side panel |24 as by a score line |53, and this bottom flap has hingedly secured thereto a second partition member broadly designated at |54. The partition member |54 has a first section I 55, a second or intermediate section |56 and a third or end section |51. The section is hingedly secured to the bottom flap |52 as by score lines |60 and |6|. The section |55 has a rectangular opening |62 therein, one edge of said opening extending in alinement with the score lines |60 and 6|. The section |55 is provided with suitable means for securing the same in superposed relation to the bottom flap |52 such as a strip of adhesive |63. The section |56 is hingedly secured to section |55 as by a score line |64 which score line is preferably provided with perforations 0r cutouts |65 and |66 to facilitate folding of the section |56 along the score line |64. The section I 51 is hingedly secured to the section |56 as by a score line |10, said score line |10 also preferably being provided with cutout portions or perforations |1| and |12 for the same purpose as the cutouts |65 and |66.

The section |56 of the partition member |54 is provided with a pluralityy of bottle receiving openings |13 separated from each other by web portions |14. The web portions |14 being of a sufficient thickness to hold the bottles positioned in the bottle receiving openings |13 in spaced relation to each other and to prevent damage to said bottles during transportation of the same. The openings |13 preferably extend adjacent the score line |84 and slightly beyond the score line |10.

Now, in erecting the modified form of the bottle carton formed from the blank IE). the handle portions and ||2 are folded along the score line I3 and are secured to each other as by the transverse strip of adhesive |15 and the handle tab I4 is folded through the hand opening I6. The top panels I9 and |26 may then be folded to extend outwardly along the lines |2| and |22 and the side panels |23 and |24 maybe folded along the lines |25 and |26 to extend downwardly from the top panels. The bottom naps |30 and |52 may be folded along the lines |3| and |53, respectively, so as to extend inwardly toward each other and in substantially right-angular relation to the side panels when the carton is in fullv erected position.

The section |36 of the partition. |34 is folded along the line |35 and secured to the bottom flap |30 and the section |31 is reversely folded along the line |43 and extends over the composite bottom formed from the bottom fiap |30 and the section |36 and in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto as will be observed in Figure 7. The section |38 is then folded in the opposite direction along the line |46 so as to extend substantially vertically in the center portion of the carton (Figure 7).

The section |55 of the partition |54 is folded in a like manner along the score lines |60 and |6| and is secured to the bottom flap |42 by the adhesive strip |63. The section |56 is then reversely folded along the line |64 and extends in spaced substantially parallel relation to the composite bottom formed from the flap |52 and the section |55 and the section |51 is then folded in the opposite direction along the line to extend substantially vertically of the carton as will be observed in Figure 7. The section |10 may then be secured to the section |38 of the partition |34 as by the strip of glue |80 to form a transverse partition.

With the carton thus partially erected, as illustrated in Figure 6, a plurality of bottles, not shown, may be inserted therein so that the necks of the bottles will extend through the openings |21 in the top panels and ||2 and the base of the bottles will be positioned in the bottle openings |41 and |13 and the bottles will be held in spaced relation to each other by the vertical sections |38 and |51 and by the Webs |5| and |14. The bottles may be inserted in this manner by hand or by any suitable mechanism such as a machine shown in my said co-pending application, Serial N0. 788,602. After the bottles have been inserted through the bottom of the carton, the bottom flaps may be adhesively or otherwise joined together, as by staples, so that the bottom flap formed from the section |36 and the bottom flap and defined by the cut-away portions |32, |33, and |4| may iit into the opening |62 and be secured in superposed relation to the bottom flap |52 to form a bottom for the carrier which is of two thicknesses over substantially the entire surface thereof.

It is thus seen that I have provided a bottle carrier formed from a single blank cardboard or the like which is provided with partition members adapted to form a substantially vertically disposed partition extending transversely of the bottle carrier and to also form a substantially horizontal partition extending in spaced relation to the bottom of the carrier and being provided with openings therein for receiving the bottles and said openings being separated from each other by web portions which hold the bottles in spaced relation to permit bottles to be packed in a carrier of this type and shipped in commerce without danger of breakage and in full compliance with shipping regulations.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

l. A carrier -for bottles and the like formed from a single blank of material and having a handle comprising two handle portions hingedly secured to each other and being provided with coinciding hand openings therein, a top panel hingedly secured to each of said handle portions,

said top panels being provided with a plurality of openings therein adapted to receive the necks of bottles positioned in said carrier, a side panel hingedly secured to each of said top panels, a bottom ap hingedly secured to each of said side panels, a partition member hingedly secured to each of said bottom flaps, means for securing together the ends of said partition members remote from said bottom flaps to provide a partition extending transversely of said carrier for separating the bottles on each side of said carrier, each of said partition members having a portion thereof foldable into superposed relation to said bottom flaps, said last-named portions each being provided with a plurality of spaced openings therein for receiving bottles positioned in said carrier and webs between said openings serving to hold said bottles in spaced relation to each other to permit bottles to be shipped in said carrier without damage, and means ior securing said bottom iiaps in overlapping relation to each other.

2. A carrier for bottles and the like formed from a single blank of material and having a handle comprising two handle portions hingedly secured to each other and being provided with coinciding hand openings therein, a top panel hingedly secured to each of said handle portions, said top panels being provided with a plurality of openings therein adapted to receive the necks of bottles positioned in said carrier, a side panel hingedly secured to each of said top panels, a bottom ilap hingedly secured to each of said side panels, a partition member integral with each of said bottom flaps, said partition members each including a iirst section foldable into supcrposed relation to said respective bottom flap, each of said partition members also including an intermediate section foldable into spaced superpcsed relation to said rst section and each of said partition members including an end section foldable into parallel relation to said side panels, means for securing each of said end sections to each other to form a partition extending transversely of said carrier for separating bottles on each side of said carrier, said intermediate sections being provided with a plurality of spaced openings therein for receiving the bases of bottles positioned in said carrier and webs between said openings serving to hold said bottles in spaced relation to each other to permit bottles to be shipped in said carrier without damage, and means for securing said bottom flaps in overlapping relation to each other.

3. A carrier for bottles and the like formed from a single sheet of material comprising a handle formed from two handle portions hingedly secured to each other, said handle portions being folded in juxtaposed relation and secured to each other, said handle portions having suitable coinciding hand openings therein, each of said handle portions having a top panel hingedly secured thereto and foldable into substantially right-angular relation thereto, each oi said top panels being provided with a plurality of openings therein adapted to receive the necks of bottles positioned in said carrier, each of said top panels having a side panel hingedly secured thereto and foldable into substantially right-angular relation therewith, each of said panels having a bottom flap hingedly secured thereto and foldable into overlapping relation with each other, means for securing said bottom fiaps in overlapping relation to each other, said bottom flaps each having a partition member hingedly secured thereto, each of said partition members comprising a first section, an intermediate section and a third section, said first sections being hingedly secured to the respective bottom flaps and being foldable into superposed relation thereto, means for securing said rst sections to said bottom flaps, said intermediate sections each being foldable into spaced superposed relation to said bottom naps, said third sections being foldable into substantially right-angular relation to said intermediate sections, means for securing the third section of each partition member together to form a partition extending transversely of said carrier, said intermediate sections each being provided with a plurality of bottle receiving openings therein, a plurality of web members separating said bottle receiving openings and being of a thickness suicient to hold said bottles in spaced relation to each other to prevent breakage thereof in shipment.

4. A carrier for bottles and the like formed from a single elongated rectangular blank of material suitably cut and scored to form a handle positioned midway of the ends of said blank and comprising two handle portions hingedly secured to each other, said handle portions being folded in juxtaposed relation and secured to each other, said handle portions having suitable coinciding hand openings therein, one of said handle portions having a tab foldable through the hand opening in said other handle portion, each of said handle portions having a top panel hingedly secured thereto and foldable into substantially right-angular relation therewith, each of said top panels being provided with a plurality of elongated openings therein adapted to receive the necks of bottles positioned in said carrier, each of said top panels having a side panel hingedly secured and foldable into substantially right-angular relation thereto, said side panels extending in parallel relation to each other, each of said side panels having a bottom flap hingedly secured thereto and foldable into overlapping relation with each other, means for securing said bottom flaps in overlapping relation to each other after bottles have been inserted in said carrier, said bottom flaps each having a partition member hingedly secured thereto, each of said partition members comprising a first section, an intermediate section and a third section, said iirst sections being hingedly secured to the respective bottom flaps and being foldable into superposed relation thereto, means for securing said rst sections to said bottom flaps to give a double thickness to said flaps, said intermediate sections being foldable into spaced superposed relation to said bottom naps, said third sections being foldable into substantially right-angular relation to said intermediate sections and extending in parallel relation to said side panels, means for securing the third section of each partition member to each other to form a partition of double thickness extending transversely of said carrier, said intermediate sections of said partitions having a plurality of spaced bottle receiving openings therein, a plurality of web members separating said bottle receiving openings, said web members being integral with said intermediate sections and of a thickness sulcient to hold bottles positioned in said bottle receiving openings in spaced relation to each other to prevent breakage thereof in shipment.

5. A carrier for bottles and the like formed from a single sheet of material comprising a handle formed from two handle portions hingedly secured to each other, said handle portions being folded in juxtaposed relation and secured to each other, said handle portions having suitable coinciding hand openings therein, each of said handle portions having a top panel hingedly secured thereto, each of said top panels having a bottom flap hingedly secured thereto, each of said sidekpanels having a bottom ilap hingedly secured thereto and foldable into overlapping relation with each other, means for securing said bottom flaps in overlapping relation to each other after insertion of bottles into said carrier, each of said bottom flaps being provided with a score line extending from the medial portion of each side thereof inwardly a relatively short distance, each of said bottom flaps being cut adjacent the proximate ends of said score lines to form a tab portion extending therefrom, a partition member hingedly secured to each of said bottom fiaps by said score lines, said partition members being cut-away along the same line forming the tab portion for said bottom iiaps, said partition members each comprising a rst section, a second section and a third section, means for securing said rst sections in superposed relation to said respective bottom llaps, said second sections being foldable into spaced superposed relation to said rst sections and to said bottom aps, said third sections being foldable into substantially parallel relation to said side panels, means for securing the third sections of each of said partitions to each other to form a transverse partition in said carrier for separating rows of bottles, each of said second sections being provided with a plurality of bottle receiving openings therein, said second sections having a plurality of web portions separating said bottle receiving openings and said web portions being of sufficient thickness to hold said bottles in spaced relation to each other, whereby bottles may be inserted through said bottle receiving openings and through the openings in said top panels and the tabportions of each of said bottom flaps may be secured to each other secured in overlapping relation to close the bottom of said carrier.

6. A carrier for bottles and the like formed from a single elongated rectangular blank of material suitably cut and scored to form a handle positioned midway of the ends of said blank and having handle portions hingedly secured to each other, said handle portions being folded in juxtaposed relation and secured to each other, said handle portions having suitable coinciding hand openings therein, one of said handles having a tab integral therewith and foldable through the handle opening in the other of said handle portions, each of said handle portions having a ltop panel hingedly secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, each of said top panels being provided with a plurality of elongated openings therein adapted to receive the necks of bottles positioned in said carrier, each of said top panels having a side panel hingedly secured thereto and extending in substantially right-angular relation therewith, said side panels extending in parallel relation to each other, each of said side panels having a bottom Ilap hingedly secured thereto, each of said bottom aps being provided with a score line extending from the medial portion of each side thereof inwardly a relatively short distance, each of said bottom flaps being cut adjacent the proximate ends of said score lines to form a tab portion extending therefrom, a partition member hingedly secured to each of said bottom flaps by said score 1ines,said partition members being cut-away along the same astanti line forming the tab portion for said bottom naps, said partition member comprising a iirst section, a second section and a third section, said sections'being of substantially half the width o! said bottom iiaps, means forA securing said first sections in superposed relation to said bottoni flaps, said second sections extending from the juncture of said side panels and said bottom naps in spaced superposed relation to said ilrst sections and to said bottom flaps, said third sections extending' from said second sections in parallel relation to said side panels, means for securing said third sections of each of said partitions-to each other to form a transverse partition of double thickness in said carrier for separating rows of bottlesl each of said second sections having a plurality oi.' bottle receiving openings therein, web portions separating said bottle receiving openings from'each other and said web portion'sbeing integral with said second sections and' of si'iiiiicientv thickness to hold said bottles in maced relation to each other, whereby, bottles may' be 'inserted through said bottle receiving openings with the necks thereof extending through the openings in said top panels and the tab portions of each of said bottom naps may be securedv in overlapping relation to each other secured to close the bottoms of said carrier and to provide a bottom of only two thicknesses of mntefl'al'- 7". A carrier for bottles and the like formed from a" single sheet of material comprising a handle 'formedfrom twohandle portions hingedly seeured to each other, said handle portions being folded in` juxtaposed relation and secured to each other, said handle portions having suitable coincidingr hand openings therein, each of said handle portions having a' top panel hingedly secured thereto, each of said top'panels being provided with a pluralityrof openings therein adapted to receive the necks of bottles positioned in said carrier, each of said top panels having a side paneljhingedly secured thereto, each of said side panels having a bottom iiap hingedly secured thereto, one of said bottom flaps having a nrst member hingedly secured thereto, said mst partition' member having a' first section, an intermediate section and an end section, the iirst section' of said ilrst partition member being of substantially the same width as the adjacent D bottom flap and having a` rectangular opening extending from' the juncture of said rst with saidj bottom flap to a medial portion of' said first section, means for securing said rst section of said iir'st partition to said' adjacent bottom nap in' superposed relation thereto, said intermediate section of said rst partition membei' being disposed in spaced superposed relation to said bottom iiap, said end section of said first partition' member extending from said intermediate section in parallel relation to said side panels, said other bottom ap having the corner portions thereof opposed from the adjacent side panelY cut-away, a second partition member hingedly secured to said bottom iiap, said second partition member having a first section, an intermediate section and an end section, the first section of said second partition member having the corner portions thereof adjacent the bottom flap cut-away in alinement with the cutaway portions of said bottom ilap, said iirst section of'said second partition member being secured to said adjacent bottom flap in superposed relation thereto, the cut-away portions of said bottom flap and said first section of said second partition member defining a tab portion adapted to t into the rectangular opening in the rst section of said rst partition member, said intermediate section of said second partition member extending in spaced superposed relation to said last-named bottom flap, said end section of said second partition member extending in parallel relation to said side panels, means securing the end sections of said rst and sec'- ond partition members together to form a transverse partition in said carrier, said intermediate sections of said rst and second partition members having bottle receiving openings therein and means for securing the tab portion in said rectangular opening in the first section of said first partition member and in super-posed relation to said first-named bottom flap to close the bottom of said carrier.

8, In a structure according to claim 7, a plurality of webs separating said bottle reeciving openings in said intermediate sections of said first and second partition members, said web portions being integral with said partition members and of a suiiicient thickness to hold bottles positioned in said openings in spaced relation to each other to prevent breakage thereof in shipment.

GROVER C. CURRIE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Bai-.e

1,896,677 Myers Feb. 7, 1933 2,276,129 Wesselman Mar. 10, 1942 2,337,197 Holy Dec. 2l, 1943 2,556,069 Currie et a1. June 5, 1951 2,559,948 Currie July 10, 1951 

